Owner/operators in critical process industries face constant pressure to deliver projects safely, efficiently, and on budget. Partnering with local engineering firms provide the expertise and agility needed to meet these demands. By working within daily operations, these teams gain a deep understanding of facility standards and operational practices—helping owners reduce delays, improve consistency, and achieve better outcomes.
Sophie Dupree and Lindsay Haines, both Baton Rouge natives and experienced engineers with S&B, embody that model. With nearly 30 years of combined experience, they’ve grown their careers within S&B’s alliance-based delivery approach and now help lead major project work across South Louisiana.
How did each of you get started in your engineering careers?
Sophie: I started as an intern back in 2011. My dad saw a job posting in the newspaper and encouraged me to apply. Even then, that was rare! I interned while finishing my chemical engineering degree at Louisiana State University (LSU), then joined S&B full-time after graduation. I’ve been here ever since.
Lindsay: I also graduated from LSU and started in 2012. After about two and a half years, I explored roles at other firms and at a chemical plant site. In 2021, I returned to S&B as a process engineer, and in 2022, I transitioned into a project engineering role. It’s been exciting to step into project leadership.
What kind of work do you focus on today?
Lindsay: I support projects primarily through our long-time customer alliance, acting as a project engineer on both small and complex scopes. That continuity helps our project teams get to know each other well, which in turn improves speed and communication.
Sophie: My path has been similar. Almost all my 15 years here have been on long-time customer projects. I’ve grown from intern to process engineer to department manager. Working with a dedicated customer team means we know their standards and expectations deeply. It helps us deliver quality from the start.
Baton Rouge natives Lindsay Haines and Sophie Dupree bring local expertise to their roles at S&B, supporting major capital projects across oil, gas and petrochemical facilities.
Why does being based in Baton Rouge matter?
Sophie: This region raised us, literally and professionally. My parents were both operators at local plants, so I always understood the industry’s impact. It feels meaningful to now support those same kinds of facilities in a leadership role.
Lindsay: For me, staying close to family was key. I’m from Central, outside Baton Rouge and most of my family still lives nearby. That personal connection, plus the opportunity to work in such a strong industrial market, made this the perfect place to grow.
What’s a project win that stands out for you?
Lindsay: I recently led a project installing gas monitors in a unit with hydrogen sulfide risks. It was my first project from front-end-loading (FEL) through execution, and we delivered on time and under budget. The customer came back with more work as a result. That felt like a major milestone for me and the team.
Sophie: One of my favorites was relocating an oil and gas pilot plant. It was a full-cycle project from front-end design through construction. Witnessing something evolve from concept to completion is a rare and rewarding experience.
S&B's Baton Rouge team- including project engineer Lindsay Haines - leverages advanced modeling tools to help clients visualize complex solutions and accelerate progress on critical infrastructures like chemical refinery expansions and midstream facility upgrades.
Who helped shape your approach to engineering and leadership?
Sophie: Roland Thompson was a phenomenal process engineer who mentored many of us before retiring. Since becoming a department manager, I’ve had great support from Jonathan Bursnall, my supervisor in Houston. His guidance helped me step confidently into leadership.
Lindsay: Julie Russell has been a great mentor. She joined us after a long career at a local chemical company and helped me learn how to lead projects and people. I’ve learned so much about how to set clear expectations, support your team and manage challenges with empathy.
What advice would you give to early-career engineers—especially women?
Sophie: Try things that feel a little outside your comfort zone. I never planned to go into management, but taking on that challenge gave me a new perspective and purpose.
Lindsay: Don’t limit yourself. You might not think you’ll enjoy a certain role, but it could end up making you a stronger engineer. I learned that firsthand.
What’s next for each of you?
Sophie: I’d like to grow our process team in Baton Rouge. We’re seeing more opportunities across the region and having a strong local team will help us keep delivering high-quality work efficiently.
Lindsay: I’m aiming to become a full-time project manager. Ultimately, I’d like to lead a team of my own. I’m already taking steps in that direction and I know S&B is behind me.
Discover how S&B's local expertise delivers smarter, safer and more effective engineering projects - explore our EPC engineering services.
